Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Information and Resources

The Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership is closely monitoring the impact that Coronavirus (COVID-19) is having on our businesses, workforce, economy, and public health in Saratoga County and beyond. We are actively collaborating with community leaders at the Federal, State, and local level, business leaders, public agencies, and local entities across Saratoga County to determine what actions we can take to help businesses and community members during this crisis.
We are committed to keeping you informed of resources available for Saratoga County businesses and workforce and will be updated as necessary. If your business is experiencing disruption during this challenging time, please email Shelby Schneider or call 518.871.1887 for further assistance.

Resources for Businesses

NY Forward – A Guide to Reopening New York and Building Back Better

The Governor’s Office has published “NY Forward: A Guide to Reopening New York & Building Back Better.” The guide details the State’s plans to reopen the economy; it can be found here. CLICK HERE TO READ NY FORWARD RE-OPENING PLAN

The State will direct the reopening of businesses based on a matrix of greatest need and safety. Businesses are also expected to demonstrate to the State that they have a plan to reopen safely that addresses employees, physical settings, and processes.

NY Forward – Industries Reopening by Phase

Businesses in each region will re-open in phases. Re-opening refers to non-essential businesses, essential businesses that are open will remain open.

Eligible industries must be in regions that have met the criteria to re-open.

Saratoga County Reopening Advisory Group Page

The Capital Region is cleared and open for safely reopening businesses and reinvigorating the economy. Click the link below for a one-stop resource with information related to helping Saratoga County businesses safely reopen.

Capital Region Reopening Plan

New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF)

The New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF) is a new economic recovery loan program aimed at supporting New York State small businesses, nonprofits and small landlords as they reopen after the COVID-19 outbreak and NYS on PAUSE. The NYFLF targets the state’s small businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (90% of all businesses), nonprofits and small landlords that have seen a loss of rental income. The NYFLF is specifically timed to support businesses and organizations as they proceed to reopen and have upfront expenses to comply with guidelines (e.g., inventory, marketing, refitting for new social distancing guidelines) under the New York Forward Plan.

Pre-applications for the New York Forward Loan Fund are now open. Priority will be given to industries and regions that have been reopened. This is not a first-come, first-served loan program. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as regions and industries reopen.

For small businesses and nonprofits that are in industries and regions that have not yet reopened, you are encouraged to prepare your pre-application in advance by taking advantage of the application preparation resources available here.

Small businesses and nonprofits must employ 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees;

Small businesses must have gross revenues of less than $3 million per year;

Nonprofits must provide direct services and have an annual operating budget of less than $3 million per year; and

Have not received a loan from either SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) for COVID-19 in 2020.

Payroll Protection Program Loan Program

The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll.

SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. The Paycheck Protection Program will be available through June 30, 2020.

Who’s eligible?

Small employers with 500 employees or fewer

Other business concerns that meet the current SBA size standards

Sole proprietors, self-employed individuals and contractors

Certain nonprofits, including 501(c)(3) organizations and 501(c)(19) veteran organizations, and tribal businesses with under 500 employees.

Businesses in the accommodation and food service industries can apply on a per location basis if they have 500 employees or fewer per location.

How to Apply
You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender, like Adirondack Trust Company, Saratoga National Bank, Glens Falls National, Ballston Spa National Bank, NBT and more or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans once they are approved and enrolled in the program. You should consult with your local lender as to whether it is participating in the program.

FACT SHEET – Please review the fact sheet with important information about the declaration and EIDL requirements at this link.

FIND LOCAL HELP – Businesses can take advantage of free assistance offered by SBA’s network of Resource Partners for help with preparing their loan applications. They may visit www.sba.gov/local-assistance to find local help.

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT – The NYS Small Business Development Center network recommends submitting a request for assistance online.

U.S. Small Business Administration Express Bridge Loans (EBL)

In response to the COVID-19 National Emergency, the SBA Express Bridge Loan (EBL) Pilot Program has been modified and the term extended. The EBL Pilot Program is designed to supplement the Agency’s direct disaster loan capabilities and authorizes SBA Express Lenders to provide expedited SBA-guaranteed bridge loan financing on an emergency basis in amounts up to $25,000 for disaster-relatedpurposes to small businesses located in communities affected by Presidentially-declared disasters while those small businesses apply for and await long-term financing (including through SBA’s direct Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, if eligible).

The general eligibility requirements for the EBL are as follows:

– For small businesses with an existing banking relationship with SBA Express lenders as of the date of the disaster.

– Effective March 25, 2020, (announcement by publication of a notice in the Federal Register will follow), SBA expanded program eligibility to include small businesses nationwide adversely impacted under the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Emergency Declaration issued by President Trump on March 13, 2020 (“COVID-19 Emergency Declaration”).

– EBL loans can only be made by SBA Express Lenders that had a valid Supplemental Loan Guaranty Agreement SBA Express Program in effect as of the date of the applicable disaster;

– EBL loans can only be made up to six months after the date of an applicable Presidential Disaster Declaration, however for the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration, EBL loans can be approved through March 13, 2021.

– The Lender must have an existing banking relationship with the EBL applicant as of the date of the applicable disaster in order to help mitigate the risks associated with the streamlined underwriting process under the EBL Pilot Program.

– The small business must have been operational when the declared disaster commenced and must meet all other 7(a) loan eligibility requirements (credit elsewhere, size, etc.);

In addition to the forms below, banks will also need to submit the most recently filed tax returns for the business and all owners of the business or a justification if not available. Sole proprietors are required to complete the 5C loan application form. All other businesses should fill out the form 5 business loan application.

Notes on filling out the forms:
– On all forms “Damaged Property” simply refers to your primary location for the operations of the business.
– On Form 5, skip box 15, this only applies to property damage loans.
– There is no specific location to input a requested loan amount. The loan amount is determined by the supporting documents and any other relevant financial information provided that substantiates the economic injury.
– All owners with 20% or greater ownership in the business must be included in the application.

Empire State Development – Guidance for New York State Businesses related to COVID-19

As New York State continually monitors and responds to developments related to COVID-19, Empire State Development (ESD) is providing up-to-date guidance for the agency’s partners and other stakeholders impacted by the virus. This is a rapidly changing situation and ESD will be updating the resources below to reflect the latest information available. ESD has created this detailed FAQ to answer immediate questions businesses may have regarding State regulations and general guidance related to the coronavirus.Submit your COVID-19 related business questions here.

Guidance for Determining Whether a Business Enterprise is an Essential Business under NYS Executive Order 202.6

On March 20, 2020, Executive Order 202.6 (or as revised) directed that all businesses and not-for-profit entities in New York State, shall utilize, to the maximum extent possible, any telecommuting or work from home procedures that they can safely utilize.

It is directed that, no later than March 20, 2020 at 11 a.m., each for-profit or not-for profit employer (excluding state and local governments and authorities) shall reduce the in-person workforce at each business/work location by 100% from pre-state of emergency declaration employment levels.

ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES OR ENTITIES, including any for profit or non-profit, regardless of the nature of the service, the function they perform, or its corporate or entity structure, are not subject to the in-person restriction. (Essential Businesses must continue to comply with the guidance and directives for maintaining a clean and safe work environment issued by the Department of Health.

Announcement Regarding the Abatement of Penalties and Interest for Sales and Use Tax due to the Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19

This will allow the Commissioner to abate interest on quarterly and annual sales and use tax filings and remittances with a due date of March 20, 2020, for those who were unable to timely file and pay as result of the COVID-19 virus.

Stay Informed of Latest News Alerts from NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo

New York Attorney General – COVID-19 Application for Suspension of Debt Collection Activity

This application is for persons or businesses that owe (non-medical and non-student*) debts to the State of New York that have been referred to the Office of the Attorney General for collection and litigation. Any such person or business, or their dependents, that have been financially impacted by COVID-19, or the international, national, and state responses designed to prevent its spread, may complete and submit this application to be considered for certain forms of relief, including relief from collection activity, interest accrual, and the assessment of collection fees. Click here for details.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

COVID-19 Phase II – Impact Survey for Saratoga County Businesses

The Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, in collaboration with our local, state, and federal community and business partners, is conducting a survey to identify Saratoga County businesses in need of assistance, how the Saratoga County economy has been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19), and what resources are needed to ensure business continuity.

The Saratoga Partnership is looking to gather information so that we can assist in helping mitigate the impacts to your business and our regional economy and to connect your business to the tools and resources you need during this challenging time. Your individual responses will remain confidential and data collected and disseminated will be aggregated.

COVID-19 Impact Survey for Saratoga County Businesses

The Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, in collaboration with our local, state, and federal community and business partners, is conducting a survey to identify Saratoga County businesses in need of assistance, how the Saratoga County economy has been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19), and what resources are needed to ensure business continuity.

The Saratoga Partnership is looking to gather information so that we can assist in helping mitigate the impacts to your business and our regional economy and to connect your business to the tools and resources you need during this challenging time. Your individual responses will remain confidential and data collected and disseminated will be aggregated.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE UPDATE
NYS is waiving the 7-Day waiting period for Unemployment Insurance benefits for people who are out of work due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) closures or quarantines.

If you are filing a new unemployment insurance claim, the day you should file is based on the first letter of your last name. If your last name starts with A – F, file your claim on Monday. For last names starting with G – N, file your claim Tuesday. For last names starting with O – Z, file your claim on Wednesday. If you missed your filing day, file your claim on Thursday or Friday. Filing later in the week will not delay your payments or affect the date of your claim, since all claims are effective on the Monday of the week in which they are filed.

Department of Labor’s Shared Work Program allows Employees to Receive Partial Unemployment Benefits While Working Reduced Hours

HOW CAN SHARED WORK HELP YOUR BUSINESS?

The Shared Work Program gives you an alternative to laying off workers during business downturns by allowing them to work a reduced work schedule and collect partial Unemployment Insurance benefits for up to 26 weeks. Instead of cutting staff, you can reduce the number of hours of all employees or just a certain group.

The Shared Work Program helps you keep trained, productive employees on the job during temporary business downturns. This means you can gear up quickly when business conditions improve. You save the expenses of recruiting, hiring and training new employees. And, you spare your employees the hardships of full unemployment. Shared Work tells employees you value them as team members. When you avoid layoffs, you tell your employees that you appreciate their work and want to keep them on, despite tough times.

WHAT DOES A SHARED WORK PLAN REQUIRE?

Your Shared Work Plan must:

• Apply to employees who normally work no more than 40 hours per week

• Reduce work hours and corresponding wages between 20% and 60%

• Replace the layoff of an equal percentage of your workforce

• Not reduce or eliminate fringe benefits, unless they are reduced or eliminated for the entire workforce

• Not extend beyond 53 weeks

• Cover all employees in an affected unit and reduce their hours by the same percentage. You may reduce different units by different percentages

COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County Residents

The Saratoga County Department of Public Health continues to work diligently to contain and mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 in the county. Residents are reminded that in order to be tested for COVID-19 an order is required from a medical doctor, healthcare provider or the county Department of Public Health. If an individual believes they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 they should contact their primary care physician ahead of time to make an appointment. If an individual has questions regarding COVID-19 they should contact the state Department of Health Hotline at 1-888-364-3065.